Putter with Removable Weights

ABSTRACT

A golf training aid with removably attached weights, wherein the golf training aid includes putters and non-putters. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a putter having an elongated shaft with a putter head attached thereto. The putter head includes a recess centrally located thereon. The recess is configured to store one or more weights therein in a side-by-side orientation. Alternatively, the weights can be attached along the shaft, preferably so that the weights are biased toward the putter head. The weights are composed of a strong magnetic material so that the weights are secured in place and prevented from shifting during a swing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Number 62/029,656 filed on Jul. 28, 2014. The above-identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to golf training aids. More specifically, the present invention pertains to an improved putter having removable weights thereon. In one embodiment, the weights are composed of a magnetic material so that they can be removably attached to the exterior of a putter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A putter is a club used in the sport of golf to make relatively short and low-speed strokes with the intention of rolling the ball into the hole from a short distance away. Accordingly, putters are generally used from very close distances to the cup, generally on the putting green. Mastering a good putting technique can greatly increase a golfer's abilities and help improve the golfer's score during gameplay. Putting can be the most difficult part of golf, and as a result many golfers spend considerable time and energy practicing putting.

Some golfers find it beneficial to increase the weight of the putter so as to help the golfer generate momentum with the club head, and to strike the ball with sufficient force. As such, putting training aids comprise weights attached thereto. Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that claim golf club heads having removable weights. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally disclose golf clubs having an interior chamber or cavity in which weights can be positioned to adjust the weight of the club head. These devices, however, do not disclose a golf putter having weights that can be removably secured to the exterior of the club head or along the length of the shaft. Thus, there is a need in the prior art for a putting training aid that allows users to readily adjust the weight thereof.

The foregoing is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.

Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,840 to Ryan discloses an adjustable weight golf club comprising at least two weight ports on the golf head thereof. Each weight port is adapted to contain a weight therein. The weights can be positioned within at least one of the weight ports to adjust the weight of the club head. Additionally, the weights can be positioned to change the center of gravity of the club head. In this way, Ryan discloses a golf club with a golf head having weights removably attached thereto. Ryan, however, does not disclose weights that can be positioned on the exterior of the club head, and that can be positioned along the shaft of the golf club.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,932 to Anderson discloses a golf putter head with adjustable weight cylinder. The weight cylinder can be mounted to a side of the putter head via straps or other similar fastening means. The weight cylinder may comprise various weights so as to allow the user to change the weight of the putter head depending on the user's preferences. While Anderson discloses a weight cylinder that can be removably attached to the putter head, Anderson does not disclose magnetic weights.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,540,589 to Bezilla discloses a golf club head that can be adjusted in weight. In one embodiment, the golf club comprises a hollow interior with an opening for receiving at least one removable weight therein. The club head further comprises a cap that can be secured to the opening so that weight can be secured within the interior of the club head. Thus, Bezilla fails to disclose a club head having weights that are secured to the exterior of the club head.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,265 to Hirakawa discloses a golf club head having a removable weight attached thereto. The golf club comprises a recessed portion for receiving a weight therein. The recessed portion is dimensioned so as to secure the weight tightly therein. The weight is attached to a plate, and the weight is inserted into the recessed portion such that the plate is coplanar with the golf club head. Hirakawa, however, does not disclose weights that can be secured to the exterior of the club head.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,562,457 to Beach discloses a golf club with a removable weight that can be attached to the club head's hosel. The weight is substantially cylindrical in shape and comprises a top portion and a bottom portion. Each of the top portion and the bottom portion includes a recessed portion with a threaded element therein. In this way, the shaft and the club head can be screwed onto the weight. Unlike the present invention, Beach does not disclose a weight that can be readily attached or detached from the golf putter.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,048 to McCabe discloses a golf head having adjustable weight. The bottom of the golf head comprises a detachable plate. The plate comprises one or more weights thereon. The weights are adapted to fit into a recess or a hollow portion of the golf head. Preferably, the weights comprise a substantially C-shaped cross section so as to follow the contours of the golf head. Thus, McCabe fails to disclose magnetic weights that can be secured on the exterior of a golf club.

The devices disclosed in the prior art have several known drawbacks. The foregoing devices are directed toward golf clubs having weights permanently secured thereto, or weights that are secured in the interior of the golf club. Thus, these devices are limited in that the weights cannot be readily adjusted and that the golf club must be disassembled in order to attach or detach the weights. The present invention overcomes these limitations by disclosing a golf putter with magnetic weights. The weights can be attached to the putter head or along the shaft towards the lower end thereof.

It is therefore submitted that the present invention is substantially divergent in design elements from the prior art, and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to golf clubs having adjustable weight. In this regard, the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of golf clubs having adjustable weight now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new and improved putter with removable weights wherein the same can be utilized for practicing putting.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a golf putter having an elongated shaft with a putter head at one end thereof. The putter head includes a recess for storing one or more weights therein in a side-by-side orientation. The weights comprise a metal shell and a magnetic core. In this way, the weights can be magnetically attached to the putter head. Alternatively, the weights can be removably attached to the shaft of the putter. Preferably, the weights are positioned toward the putter head so that the putter is heavier towards the lower end thereof when in use. In other embodiments, however, the weights can be placed anywhere along the length of the shaft.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new and improved putter with removable weights that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved putter with removable weights wherein the weights can be removably stored in the putter head.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved putter with removable weights wherein the weights can be removably attached to the putter shaft.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved putter with removable weights that resembles a traditional putter and that can be used in a usual manner.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved putter with removable weights wherein the device may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein the numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a close up view of the putter head of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the putter having weights secured to the shaft thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

References are made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the putter with removable weights. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used to practice putting. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a perspective view of the present invention and a close up view of the putter head of the present invention, respectively. The present invention comprises a putter 21 having an elongated shaft 22. The elongated shaft 22 is preferably composed of a lightweight metal, or other similar material. The shaft 22 includes a distal end and a proximal end 23. The distal end of the shaft 22 includes a handgrip. The handgrip comprises a tubular sleeve of substantially circular cross-section surrounding the distal end of the shaft 22. The sleeve is padded so as to increase comfort when gripping the putter 21.

The proximal end 23 of the shaft 22 is preferably bent, and includes a putter head 24 thereon. The putter head 24 comprises a back wall 25, a front wall 26, and sidewalls 29, wherein the back wall 25 is a striking surface. Similar to traditional putter heads, the back wall 25 of the putter head 24 comprises a flat, low profile, and low-loft striking face. The middle portion of the putter head 24 comprises a recess 28 for holding at least one weight 27 therein. Preferably, the recess 28 is composed of a metal or magnetic material so that the weights 27 can be magnetically secured thereto. In some embodiments, the putter head 24 is composed of a metal or magnetic material so that the weights 27 can be magnetically secured thereto.

In the illustrated, the weights 27 comprise a spherical shape and are composed of a magnetic material. However, in alternate embodiments, the weights 27 have alternate shapes, wherein the weights 27 are shaped so as to fit within the recess 28 on the putter head 24. The weights 27 are composed of a magnetic material so that they can remain removably secured to the putter without requiring additional fastening means. Additionally, the weights 27 are attracted to each other via magnetic forces. In this way, individual weights 27 do not easily separate from each other. This allows multiple weights 27 to act as a single unit when positioned within the recess 28.

The recess 28 is substantially elongated in shape so as to hold the weights 27 in a side-by-side orientation. The recess 28 is dimensioned so as to snugly secure the weights 27 therein. Preferably, the distance between the back wall 25 and the front wall 26 is substantially equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of the weights 27. In the illustrated embodiment, the putter head 24 is dimensioned so as to fit four weights 27 between the sidewalls 29. In this way, the weights 27 do not shift excessively as the putter 21 is used. However, in alternate embodiments, the recess 28 may be suited for holding fewer or additional weights.

In the illustrated embodiment, the back wall 25 is greater in height than the front wall 26 so as to provide a surface on which the weights 27 can rest. Additionally, the sidewalls 29 are sloped downward toward the recess 28. In this way, the weights 27 do not easily fall or slide out of the recess 28. The top of the weights 27 is visible and easily accessible by the user, so that the weights 27 can be easily placed in the recess 28 or removed therefrom.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown another view of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the weights 27 are removably attached to the shaft 22 of the putter. Preferably, the weights 27 are positioned near the proximal end 23 of the shaft 22 so that the putter is heavier towards the putter head. In other embodiments, the weights 27 can be placed only on the putter head or on the putter head and the shaft 22.

The weights 27 comprise an outer shell 31 having a magnetic core 30 therein. The magnetic core is composed of various magnetic materials, such as ferromagnetic particles (e.g., iron and its alloys), and ferromagnetic particles (e.g., ferrite), among others. Preferably, the weights 27 attach to the shaft 22 strongly enough so that they remain secured in place even when the putter is swung. The weights 27 may be substantially equal in size and shape. In other embodiments, the present invention may comprise weights 27 of different sizes and shape so as to allow the user to further adjust the weight of the putter.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above descriptions then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specifications are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim: 1) A putter with removable weights, comprising: an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end; said proximal end having a putter head; said putter head having a recess for receiving at least one magnetic weight therein such that said at least one magnetic weight is in a side-by-side orientation. 2) The putter of claim 1, wherein said at least one magnetic weight comprises a spherical shape. 3) The putter of claim 1, wherein said at least one magnetic weight comprises a metal shell within a magnetic core. 4) The putter of claim 1, wherein said putter head comprises a back wall and a front wall, wherein said recess is located between said back wall and said front wall. 5) The putter of claim 4, wherein said back wall comprises a height greater than that of said front wall. 6) A putter with removable weights, comprising: an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end; said proximal end having a putter head; at least one magnetic weight removably attached to said elongated shaft; wherein said at least one magnetic weight is biased toward said proximal end. 7) The putter of claim 6, wherein said at least one magnetic weight comprises a spherical shape. 8) The putter of claim 6, wherein said at least one magnetic weight comprises a metal shell within a magnetic core. 9) The putter of claim 6, wherein said putter head is adapted to hold said at least one magnetic weight thereon. 